Print Report
CEGL002405 Quercus stellata / Cinna arundinacea Flatwoods Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Post Oak / Sweet Woodreed Flatwoods Forest
Colloquial Name: Post Oak Flatwoods
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dry post oak flatwoods type is found in the central midwestern United States. Stands occur on both glaciated and unglaciated areas, with the majority of the range over glacial till of Illinoisan age, to the north of the Ohio River. Stands occur on level or nearly level sites. Soils contain a well-developed subsurface hardpan that is impermeable or nearly impermeable, causing a shallowly perched water table. The soil moisture fluctuates widely throughout the growing season. Depressions may form seasonal or ephemeral (vernal) ponds. The vegetation contains a dominant tree layer with an average canopy cover of 80% or more. Trees may be stunted due to the unfavorable soil conditions. The canopy is typically strongly dominated by Quercus stellata, but may include Quercus alba, Quercus bicolor, Quercus falcata, Quercus marilandica, and, more rarely, Quercus palustris. In Illinois, the shrub and woody vine strata may contain Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Rosa carolina, Rubus allegheniensis, Rubus flagellaris, and Toxicodendron radicans. The shrub strata may not be distinct. The herbaceous layer can be fairly disparate from one stand to the next. Some stands can be dominated by Cinna arundinacea, Chasmanthium latifolium and Eleocharis tenuis var. verrucosa. Plants more typical of dry and dry-mesic soil grow on slight rises, including Carex festucacea, Carex pensylvanica, Danthonia spicata, Helianthus divaricatus, and others. In Kentucky, this community occurs on relatively high flat areas that are no longer flooded, such as ancient Quaternary or Tertiary post-glacial meltwater lakebeds and high terraces of the Upper Gulf Coastal Plain and Shawnee Hills. In addition to the nominal species, the canopy in Kentucky may have Quercus alba and Carya texana. Herbaceous cover is sparse to moderate; leaf litter is the dominant ground cover. A fragipan layer leads to "xerohydric" conditions. Local dominance in depressions is of wetland species (Juncus, etc.). Dry areas in Kentucky will have Manfreda virginica, Croton michauxii var. ellipticus, Danthonia spicata, Gillenia stipulata, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, and Prenanthes aspera (characteristic of open areas). In Kentucky, stands grade downslope into bottomland hardwood forest and cypress swamp and upslope into mesic upland or dry oak-hickory forest.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Rangewide review may find that, apart from the post oak dominance and flatwoods environment, understory composition may vary widely [see Taft et al. (1995)]. In Kentucky, this type is thought to be fire-suppressed; structure varies from forest to woodland (M. Evans pers. comm. 1999). The former is thought to represent the fire-suppressed condition, the latter the more natural state, remnants of which still exist in the Jackson Purchase area [see Hendricks et al. (1991)]. Many noteworthy herbaceous species are characteristic of prairie barrens. Compare also with other Kentucky "Flatwoods" types. In Missouri stands also may contain a large prairie flora [see Ladd and Heumann (1994)]. See Taft et al. (1995) for an excellent review of this type in Illinois. Clay barrens in Indiana, ~Quercus stellata / (Danthonia spicata, Croton michauxii var. ellipticus) Flatwoods Woodland (CEGL005057)$$, may be a variant of this type.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation contains a dominant tree layer with an average canopy cover of 80% or more. Trees may be stunted due to the unfavorable soil conditions. The canopy is typically strongly dominated by Quercus stellata, but may include Quercus alba, Quercus bicolor, Quercus falcata, Quercus marilandica and, more rarely Quercus palustris. In the Jackson Purchase region of Kentucky Quercus velutina is important in the overstory (Hendricks et al. 1991). In Illinois, the shrub and woody vine strata may contain Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Rosa carolina, Rubus allegheniensis, Rubus flagellaris, and Toxicodendron radicans (Taft et al. 1995). The shrub strata may not be distinct. In Indiana, shrubs include Rhus copallinum and Hypericum prolificum. The herbaceous layer can be fairly disparate from one stand to the next. Some stands can be dominated by Cinna arundinacea, Chasmanthium latifolium and Eleocharis tenuis var. verrucosa (= Eleocharis verrucosa). Plants more typical of dry and dry-mesic soil grow on slight rises, including Carex festucacea, Carex pensylvanica, Danthonia spicata, Helianthus divaricatus, and others (Aldrich and Homoya 1986, Taft et al. 1995). In addition to the nominal species, the canopy in Kentucky may have Quercus alba and Carya texana. Herbaceous cover is sparse to moderate; leaf litter is the dominant ground cover. A fragipan layer leads to "xerohydric" conditions. Local dominance in depressions is of wetland species (Juncus, etc.). Dry areas in Kentucky will have Manfreda virginica, Croton michauxii var. ellipticus (= Croton willdenowii), Danthonia spicata, Gillenia stipulata (= Porteranthus stipulatus), Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, and Prenanthes aspera (characteristic of open areas). These areas grade downslope into bottomland hardwood forest and cypress swamp and upslope into mesic upland or dry oak-hickory forest.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community occurs on level or nearly level sites. Soils have a well-developed hardpan that causes a shallowly perched water table (White and Madany 1978). The soil moisture fluctuates widely throughout the growing season. Depressions often contain seasonal or ephemeral (vernal) ponds. This community usually is found over glacial till of Illinoisan age, but its distribution south of glacial deposits in Kentucky is uncertain. In Missouri, these flatwoods once occupied broad, flat ridges of the Salem Plateau in the Ozarks, where thin loess soils occur over Ordovician residuum of cherty clay loam (M. Leahy pers. comm. 1999). In Kentucky, this community occurs on relatively high flat areas that are no longer flooded, such as ancient Quaternary or Tertiary post-glacial meltwater lakebeds and high terraces of the Upper Gulf Coastal Plain and Shawnee Hills.
This type is found in an area of Illinois where Wynoose soil type occurs (Fralish 1988). The area is very poorly drained, with Quercus stellata the only dominant tree species, creating a cathedral-like overstory. The height growth of Quercus stellata trees stops when the trees reach about 30 cm in diameter, creating a maximum tree height of 22-23 m. The understory contains Cinna arundinacea, and has few seedlings, saplings or shrubs.
This community typically borders floodplain forests and may be associated with barrens. These forests may have been more open in the past. Fire may have been important in maintaining this community before European settlement.
This type is found in an area of Illinois where Wynoose soil type occurs (Fralish 1988). The area is very poorly drained, with Quercus stellata the only dominant tree species, creating a cathedral-like overstory. The height growth of Quercus stellata trees stops when the trees reach about 30 cm in diameter, creating a maximum tree height of 22-23 m. The understory contains Cinna arundinacea, and has few seedlings, saplings or shrubs.
This community typically borders floodplain forests and may be associated with barrens. These forests may have been more open in the past. Fire may have been important in maintaining this community before European settlement.
Geographic Range: This dry post oak flatwoods type is found in the central midwestern United States in both glaciated and unglaciated areas, with the majority of the range over glacial till of Illinoisan age, to the north of the Ohio River. States include Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and possibly in the Mississippi Delta of Arkansas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, IL, IN, KY, MO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686187
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.2 Pin Oak - Green Ash - Blackgum Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M503 | 1.B.3.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.2.b Overcup Oak - Post Oak - Blackgum Flatwoods & Pond Forest Group | G654 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
| Alliance | A3431 Post Oak Interior Flatwoods Forest Alliance | A3431 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL002405 Post Oak / Sweet Woodreed Flatwoods Forest | CEGL002405 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus stellata - Cinna arundinacea (Fralish 1987)
= Quercus stellata / Cinna arundinacea Flatwoods Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Quercus stellata / Cinna arundinacea Flatwoods Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Aldrich, J. R., and M. A. Homoya. 1986. Natural barrens and post oak flatwoods in Posey and Spencer counties, Indiana. Unpublished report. Indiana Natural Heritage Program.
- Campbell, J. J. N., and J. Grubbs. 1992. Natural plant communities of Hopkins County, Kentucky. Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science 53:29-38.
- Chastain, R. A., M.A. Struckhoff, K. W. Grabner, E. D. Stroh, H. He, D. R. Larsen, T. A. Nigh, and J. Drake. 2006. Mapping vegetation communities in Ozark National Scenic Riverways: Final technical report to the National Park Service. Open-File Report 2006-1354. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA. 90 pp. plus appendices.
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- Evans, Marc. Personal communication. Ecologist. Kentucky Natural Heritage Program, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Fralish, J. S. 1976. Forest site-community relationships in the Shawnee Hills region, southern Illinois. Pages 65-87 in: J. Fralish, G. Weaver, and R. Schlesinger, editors. Proceedings of the first central hardwood conference. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
- Fralish, J. S. 1987. Forest stand basal area and its relationship to individual soil and topographic factors in the Shawnee Hills. Transactions of the Illinois Academy of Science 80(3 and 4):183-194.
- Fralish, J. S. 1988b. Predicting potential stand composition from site characteristics in the Shawnee Hills Forest of Illinois. The American Midland Naturalist 120(1):79-101.
- Hendricks, W. D., L. E. McKinney, B. L. Palmer-Bell, Jr., and M. Evans. 1991. Biological inventory of the Jackson Purchase region of Kentucky. Final report, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. 212 pp.
- Homoya, M. A., J. Aldrich, J. Bacone, L. Casebere, and T. Post. 1988. Indiana natural community classification. Indiana Natural Heritage Program, Indianapolis, IN. Unpublished manuscript.
- Ladd, D., and B. Heumann. 1994. Baseline ecological assessment of selected oak woodlands on the Houston-Rolla District, Mark Twain National Forest. Final report for USDA Forest Service Challenge Cost Share Agreement 05-09-119. 183 pp.
- Leahy, Mike. Personal communication. Missouri Natural Heritage Database, Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- MNHP [Missouri Natural Heritage Program]. 2000. Missouri Natural Heritage GIS Database. Missouri Natural Heritage Program, Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City. (last accessed 2000).
- Menges, E. S., R. W. Dolan, and D. J. McGrath. 1987. Vegetation, environment, and fire in a post oak flatwoods/barrens association in southwestern Indiana. Report to The Nature Conservancy, Holcomb Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN. 38 p.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
- Taft, J. B., M. W. Schwartz, and L. R. Phillippe. 1995. Vegetation ecology of flatwoods on the Illinoian till plain. Journal of Vegetation Science 6:647-666.
- White, J., and M. Madany. 1978. Classification of natural communities in Illinois. Pages 311-405 in: Natural Areas Inventory technical report: Volume I, survey methods and results. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana, IL.